Iran said Tuesday it views its nuclear activities as a non-negotiable right, but confirmed they will be discussed in talks with world powers aimed at defusing a crisis containing the seeds of a new Middle East war.

"The issue of our country's peaceful nuclear activities will be on the agenda for talks between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany)," foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters in a televised briefing.

"Our main demand is recognition of our right to possess the (nuclear) technology for peaceful purposes," he said. "That right has been achieved, and we don't think there is a negotiable issue regarding our nuclear activities."

Meanwhile, Mohammad Hejazi, the deputy head of the Islamic Republic's armed forces, told Fars News Agency Tuesday Iran would take pre-emptive action against its enemies if it felt its national interests were under threat.

"Our strategy now is that if we feel our enemies want to endanger Iran's national interests, and want to decide to do that, we will act without waiting for their actions," he said.

AFP - Reuters